Urgent Advice Please- Alfie Is Sick

Lisa7284

Regular Member
Please, any advice would be appreciated. Alfie is sick. I have spent the afternoon desperately looking for an avian vet and have found one a few hours ago. They do not have an emergency/ out of hours clinic- no one does! I have booked an appointment with a bird clinic in Murcia (about 3 hours from where we live but it is the closest one to me). All the vets there are avian vets and the earliest they can see him is 10.30am tomorrow.

He is very sleepy, eating/ drinking a little but not much. He moves occasionally from one perch to the other but spend most of the time huddled shivering. I have put a heater on to help keep him warm. I am trying to keep him hydrated with lots of juicy fruits and water (I even put a little bit of honey in it) but he is not really interested. I feel so powerless, I don't know what else I can do? I am terrified he is going to die before I can get him to a vet. I don't want to go to bed and leave him in case he gets worse, but I don't know how to help him.

Also what is the best way to travel with him? He will have quite a long drive tomorrow. Should I take his perch out of his travel cage and put a towel in for him to lie on?

Since I started writing this I have had to put Alfie in his travel cage as he looks quite unsteady on his perch. One of his wings is very droopy and doesn't seem to be working right. Everywhere I read it says to take them to the vets immediately but no one is open! I put him in his travel cage but with his drooping wing he is having trouble moving around and is getting distressed so I took him out and put him on my bed. He slept on my lap for a little while but now keeps going to the end of the bed to sleep. I don't know what to do for the best. Do I move his perches down low in his big cage so he has plenty of room for his wing, put him back in his travel cage or leave him on my bed ( doesn't feel safe to leave him on my bed).I know he needs to be left to sleep and rest but I don't where is best for him. This is so awful
 
If I am concern end about a bird I do not make an appointment and just go to the vets, Let them see the bird as they can then see the urgency and get it seen quicker
 
I would but there are no vets at the centre until 10.30 tomorrow morning. They do not have emergency hours. The vet I spoke to was at home and was talking to me on his mobile phone. I spoke to Bear's vet and she told me that there is nothing they can do to help as they do not do avian care.
 
There are very few avian vets in Spain. I did think I would be doing an 8 hour trip to Malaga tomorrow so I should be grateful. It just seems like a terribly long wait. I have placed a towel on the bottom of his travel cage and have placed a blanket over half of the top. He is resting now.
 
It's terrible, he just looks so sick. And all I can think is what did I do. Did I feed him something I shouldn't have. Have I used something in the kitchen but I can't think of anything but there must be something.

He is sleeping now. His breathing looks OK. His poop is a little watery and he being quite aggressive, which wouldn't be too unusual but he is even being aggressive to me.

I have moved his travel cage in to my bedroom so I can keep an eye on him. I just want tonight to be over so I can get him to a vet.
 
Thank you, it's been a very long night. Every time I checked on him I was so scared he would be gone but thankfully he is still with us but very poorly. I will be leaving for the vets soon.
 
Hi Lisa
Sorry to hear Alfie is unwell.
If he's in his travel cage that is a good thing as less distance to fall if he gets too wobbly. Pad the bottom of the cage regardless so if he feels like going to the bottom he can in comfort.
I currently have Henni in her travel cage as she had an operation yesterday unexpectedly.
Keep his travel cage next to you and if necessary travel him to the vets sooner rather than later I know you said three hours to get there but rather to be there and camped out than travelling him if he feels more poorly. Sounds bacterial rather than anything else. Try not to disturb him too much whilst he's sleeping I know its really easy to keep worrying and keep checking every two minutes but let him settle himself and grab a few winks as the journey is going to tire him a lot.
Make sure he keeps eating and importantly taking in water. Two hour sbefore you get to the vets stop all food and water in case they need to knock him out for a minute or two to say take xrays or something like that.
 
Hi Lisa, so sorry to hear Alfie is poorly. Sorry I missed your posts during the night, Imofeten check in on forum, but ai’ve hurt my back so haven’t been doing so these past few nights.
We’re keeping everything crossed here for you xxx
 
Just got home from the vets. They did a long examination of him and blood tests. The vet has ruled out something ingested or inhaled he thinks either a viral or bacterial infection. Alfie's blood test showed he is not anemic, some of his other levels were a bit low but the vet said that is because he is ill, it is not making him ill. He has been treated for dehydration and has been given antibiotics. He did a thorough examination of his wings and there are no sign of swelling/ infections or fractures.

They took poop samples to send for testing. He has come home with a small pharmacy of drugs to be given over the next 4 days. I am to Skype the vet several times a day so can see Alfie, I also have to send pictures of his poop every day. If he get any worse I must contact him. Next appointment (as long as he doesn't deteriorate is for Monday).

Feel exhausted and a bit of a mess. Alfie is currently sleeping under his heater.
 
Oooo been thinking about you all day.
Great that you can Skype in between
Right off for a lay down Mrs and de-stress for a bit and Alfie will be shattered too.
Huge hugs to you
 
Henni is just being her usual toe-rag self tough as old boots that one :)
Am more worried about your sweetie as this is so out of character for him plus the stress of not being close to an avian you have double the travel I have :yikes:
 
Good to hear from you Lisa, have been thinking of you all day. You did brilliantly getting him to the specialists and sounds like they are being very thorough. Hope Alfie is soon on the mend xxx
 
I was shocked at how many Avian vets are here...practically none! I am a member of a forum and when I was asking, there were so many with birds and parrots but they had no idea where an avian vet could be found. I have given feedback on my visit today as most of the local parrot owners take their birds to generic vets.

@DizzyBlue if someone had told me last night there was an avian vet open 12 hours away I would have driven to it. Worst feeling ever. I am trying not to get my hopes up as he still looks very ill BUT he survived the night and has come home with me and at least something is being done and I have been given a plan of care to follow. I don't feel so helpless.
 
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